White House looks to curb smog-rule impact

The Obama administration is promising to blunt the impact of its pending ozone standards by ensuring flexibility for industries, but it likely won’t have enough wiggle room to win over its fiercest critics.

In an effort to refute industry’s claims that a tighter smog standard will put a damper on economic recovery, the White House and the EPA have repeatedly vowed to use flexibility allowed under the Clean Air Act when the rules are implemented.

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That would allow the administration to install a standard in line with the between 60 and 70 parts per billion that agency scientists have recommended — and appease environmental and public health groups — while giving officials the ability to point to the implementation plan as proof that it has maximized flexibility for industry.

EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan has said in several recent statements that “in implementing this new standard, EPA will use the long-standing flexibility in the Clean Air Act to consider costs, jobs and the economy.” And a White House official said last month that President Barack Obama “is committed to using the full flexibility in the law to ensure that the implementation of a new standard does not impede our economic recovery."

EPA’s ozone rule and a draft implementation plan have been under review by the White House since July 11, and some observers speculate that the final standard has been delayed in part while the implementation plan is fine-tuned.

The Clean Air Act lays out requirements for EPA and states to designate areas as in “attainment” or in “nonattainment” with new standards and for the agency to approve states’ plans to get in line with the new rules.

Under the timelines laid out in the law, new ozone rules would likely be enforceable by EPA between six and seven years after the rules take effect, according to clean air attorneys.

Earthjustice attorney David Baron said there’s quite a bit of flexibility allowed under the law when it comes to implementing air quality standards. The Clean Air Act gives states leeway to pick pollution controls they want to use, Baron said, and provides more time for states if they can’t meet the standard but are doing everything they can to comply.

EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan has said in several recent statements that “in implementing this new standard, EPA will use the long-standing flexibility in the Clean Air Act to consider costs, jobs and the economy.” And a White House official said last month that President Barack Obama “is committed to using the full flexibility in the law to ensure that the implementation of a new standard does not impede our economic recovery."

Yet another lIBERAL JOB KILLING AGENDA......I am for saving the enviroment, but the EPA has gotten way out of control. Who elected these idividuals to regulate our businesses? How is it that we elect congress to regulate business and economic issues, but the EPA has no election process and in many ways more control of implimention than our own elected congress? When did the american citizens lose control over our government....because they certainly do not work for the american citizen anymore.

Yet another lIBERAL JOB KILLING AGENDA......I am for saving the enviroment, but the EPA has gotten way out of control. Who elected these idividuals to regulate our businesses? How is it that we elect congress to regulate business and economic issues, but the EPA has no election process and in many ways more control of implimention than our own elected congress? When did the american citizens lose control over our government....because they certainly do not work for the american citizen anymore.

In other words even Obama knows that the new standard will hurt job creation and force more businesses to leave this country. But if he says that then he will take a hit in donations from the far left who wanted the cap and tax law. Any chance Obama had next month on his "jobs bill" will be snuffed out before he can even tell people what it is by this alone. Maybe that laser like focus on jobs Obama talked about was jobs in China. Well don't worry the GOP will make sure people understand who's really killing job creation in this country when they pass a bill in the house preventing the EPA from killing more jobs than it already has.

In effect just another fundraising mechanism for Obama's reelection campaign. This is why Daley was brought in - to apply high-level Chicago-style brutality to shake down terrified businessmen for campaign cash.

Obama learnt this in the Senate, where such behavior is completely normal - pretend that there is some flexibility/debate over a particular policy and then squeeze all potentially affected parties for cash before announcing the decision (which had been made long beforehand anyway). Chicago at its loveliest.

I am confused. If the regulation is too severe, doesn't it need to be changed? Isn't this like saying we have a new law, but you know we're not going to like obey it or anything? Who gets to decide the "flexibility"? Is this just another way for the democrats to provide another unfair advantage or kick back to their contributors? Gee I wonder why people don't like this gray matter(that always seems to provide advantages to the left) administration?